Blues make one change for todays game and get a narrow single point victory on the annual Pink Charity day, Blues defence earns them the 4-point victory

Blues kick off WSM gather and return the kick, Blues run out of defence but lose the ball in the tackle, WSM attack getting a penalty which they kick to touch in Blues 22, lineout won their forwards pick and drive to get over and score through Sam Coles, Alex Howarth kicking the conversion 0-7 3mins, another poor start from Blues

Blues restart WSM take play back into Blues half before a forward pass gives Blues a scrum, WSM’s pack shove Blues backwards winning possession and set off on another attack, WSM cough up possession allowing Blues to run out of defence then kick deep into WSM’s 22, WSM clear to touch under pressure from the Blues chasers, Blues win their lineout and attack taking play across the pitch and getting a penalty at the tackle which Dan Thorne kicks 3-7 8 mins

WSM kick off Blues gather and return the kick, WSM spill the ball backwards and are let off when Blues knock on in the tackle, WSM get a penalty at the scrum and clear to touch, lineout won WSM run at Blues but knock on in the tackle just in Blues half, Blues pack win the scrum under pressure and take play back into WSM’s half getting a penalty which is kicked to touch in WSM’s 22. Blues win their lineout and the forwards rumble up to the line, Blues pick and drive keeping the ball live which allows Adam Neal to break through the tackles to score the long conversion is just wide 8-7 15 mins

WSM kick off Blues kick back into WSM’s half, WSM run the ball back to halfway before sending a kick bouncing into touch, Blues win the lineout and soon put a kick back into WSM’s half, both sides kick before WSM run at Blues getting a penalty at the tackle which they kick to touch, WSM concede a scrum at the lineout just in their own half, Blues pack is under pressure but they just manage to win their scrum and take play across the pitch then concede a penalty at the tackle which WSM kick to touch in Blues 22
WSM win their lineout and their forwards take play up to the line before losing possession allowing Blues to clear to touch just outside their 22, WSM win the lineout and attack before putting in a chip kick over Blues defensive line, play is brought back for a WSM penalty which Alex Howarth kicks 8-10 27 mins

Blues kick off WSM run back at Blues taking play into Blues half before Blues manage to steal the ball and attack getting into WSM’s half and winning a penalty at the tackle which they tap and go taking play into WSM’s 22 winning another penalty which Dan Thorne kicks, 11-10 30 mins

WSM restart Blues return the kick, WSM run at Blues, Blues defence stands firm and earn a penalty which is kicked to touch in WSM’s 22, WSM get a scrum at the lineout, scrum won they kick clear, Blues run at WSM and some good running rugby takes Blues deep into WSM’s 22 and earns them a penalty which Dan Thorne kicks 14-10 35 mins

Both sides are unable to add to their score in the last few minutes before half time, a pretty even first half with Blues just edging it, time for the coaches to do their work

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WSM’s kick off is to deep rolling over the dead ball line giving Blues a scrum on half way, Blues get a penalty at the scrum which is kicked to touch, lineout won Blues attack Alex Bancroft breaking through the WSM defence to score wide out on the right, the conversion is just short, 19-10 41 mins

WSM’s restart kick seems short but play carries on when WSM hack the ball forwards, Blues try running out of their 22 before kicking into WSM’s half, WSM attack and soon have a penalty at the tackle which is kicked to touch, lineout won WSM attack taking play across the pitch and soon get another penalty at the tackle which Alex Howarth kicks 19-13 45 mins

George Robinson Slater off Paul Sayers on

Blues restart, WSM run the ball back at the Blues defence who force WSM to concede a penalty, WSM are marched back 10, Blues kick to touch in WSM’s 22, WSM steal the lineout and clear to touch just in their own half, lineout won Blues attack making ground before a loose pass ends the move and WSM get a penalty which they kick to touch, lineout won WSM’s forwards maul before the ball is released wide left allowing their winger Kyran Devitt to score wide out left, the conversion is wide, 19-18 53 mins.

Blues kick off WSM gather then put in a long kick which blues touch down in their try area and take the 22 drop out, WSM gather and take play across the pitch and then back, Blues get a penalty at the tackle which is kicked to touch, lineout won Blues soon cough up possession giving WSM a scrum.

Josh Winfield and Dylan Stewart off Chris Bird and Ollie Spanswick on 56 mins

WSM pack has been dominant all game and earn a penalty when they shove Blues backwards, they kick to touch, Blues manage to steal the lineout but their attempted kick is charged down, Blues get a scrum, Blues pack is again shoved backwards but illegally giving Blues a free kick which is kicked to touch. WSM win their lineout and attack, a knock on in the tackle gives Blues a defensive scrum, Blues win under pressure but concede a penalty at the tackle then 10m for dissent, WSM kick to touch, injury time out.
Lineout won WSM maul up to the try line but Blues hold them up giving WSM a 5m scrum, WSM shove Blues back and their forwards pick and drive but cannot break the Blues defence, WSM take play wide and great defence from Blues tackles them into touch when a try looked certain
Blues win the lineout and kick clear to touch, WSM attack from their lineout but concede a penalty on Blues 22, Blues kick to touch

Josh Winfield on Finn Walsh off 68 mins

WSM steal the lineout and run at Blues but again good defence forces the mistake and Blues attack taking play back into WSM’s half before a knock on gives WSM a scrum, Blues scrum just holds firm and Blues force a knock on in the tackle. WSM’s forwards force a penalty at Blues scrum which is kicked to touch on half way, lineout won WSM attack but lose the ball Blues hacking it upfield, WSM gather and attack and soon have a penalty, the long kick just drifts wide of the posts.
Blues take the 22 drop out WSM run back at Blues but again good defence forces the knock on, Blues have a scrum just in WSM’s half, again the WSM shove Blues off the ball and win possession, WSM now put Blues defence under sustained pressure through 35+ phases of play on Blues 22 taking play several minutes into injury time, Blues defence holds firm and is rewarded when Toby Holland holds onto the WSM winger and Jamie Futcher rips the ball Tom Hunt kicks into touch to bring the final whistle.

Blues defence in the final minutes has earned them a much-deserved narrow victory and 4 league points in a great close hard-fought game of rugby.

Another Monks Lane memory

Thanks to WSM for contributing to a great game, good luck for the remainder of the season, hope you win your remaining games and get 2nd place.

Newbury Squad
Ben Hicks, Jack Walsh, George Robinson Slater, Kyle Doel, Adam Neal, Finn Walsh,
Dylan Stewart, Josh Winfield,
Tom Hunt, Alex Bancroft, Jamie Futcher, Toby Holland, Dan Thorne, Toby Thorne, Tom Martin,
Paul Sayers, Ollie Spanswick, Chris Bird,

Thanks to the great Blues support

Thanks to Matisse and Charlie our ever-present ball boys, your help on Saturdays is much appreciated

Blues next fixture is Sat 21st March Away v table topping Barnstaple 2-30pm KO, Coach leaves NRFC at 8-45